Joseph Zammit (1978):
A Superb View Of The Blue Grotto....,
with the Drama of the Shark, the dive, and the storm.
32 pp, 14 photos.
A good detailed account of both the Blue Grotto and the many other caves in the area.

As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

A boat trip along the dramatic cliffs of the south coast is one of the
highlights of a visit to Malta.
To see the grottoes at their best, try and make the trip on a bright sunny
morning, preferably before 11 o'clock when the sun is still low in the sky and
the sun's rays penetrate far into the caves.

Wied iz Zurrieq is a little fishing village on the south coast, reached by a
spectacular drive along the cliff tops.
From here, traditional fishing boats ferry passengers every day, but only if the
water is calm.
The fishermen tend to cram in as many visitors as they can, eight is supposedly
the limit.
Try to avoid stormy weather when the turbulent seas break on the headland and
send spray up to 30 m or more into the air.
In these conditions a drive along the south coast is called for.

Wied iz-Zurrieq harbour consists of no more than a cluster of houses, shops and
cafés, an exhibition of sea shells, a small shrine giving heavenly
protection to fishermen and a watch-tower erected by the Knights of St John to
warn of enemy ships.
A slipway lined with fishing boats leads down to the minuscule harbour.
This is a popular spot for swimmers and scuba-divers.

The boat journey takes a total of 50 minutes and weaves in and out of a series
of limestone caverns set in a cliff of weird-shaped rocks.
All the caverns have names and the rock is tinted pink, mauve or orange by coral
or minerals, especially in one called Reflection Cave.
On a fine day the waters are constantly changing colours from deep water indigo
and navy peaking to azure and emerald according to the state of the sun.
A hand placed in the water will glow turquoise blue if you drag it in the water.

To reach the Blue Grotto itself, so-called because of the deep blue of the water
inside, boats pass under a monumental arch, resembling a flying buttress in a
cathedral.
From here you glide into the dark grotto, which goes for 50 m deep in the cliff
face.
Goodwin mentions some underwater sea caves.

If you do not want to do the boat trip, however, you can walk to the top of the
grotto via the coastal path from the village.